With the appointment of young party president, Nitin Nabin, speculation is rife over the formation of his new team. The buzz is that Nabin’s team will give preference to younger leaders and women— a probability that appears to have triggered anxiety among several existing office-bearers and those aspiring to be its part.
The BJP is likely to announce its new team soon. With the deliberations on the composition of the new team almost complete, only final approval is due. It will be granted only when the senior leadership gives a go-ahead, sources say.
In this context, some major changes are expected across the organisation, including at the levels of vice-presidents, general secretaries and secretaries, so as to project a refreshed line of action. Nearly 50 per cent of these positions may see new faces, and some leaders could also be shifted from one role to another. Amid the uncertainty over who will find a place in the final line-up and in what capacity, in view of Nabin’s age (he is barely 45), many senior leaders are said to be apprehensive that their age may work against them in the selection process, if that is taken into consideration.
Nabin faces a challenging task ahead — preparing the party for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, managing reforms such as women’s reservation, delimitation and One Nation One Election, and expanding the BJP’s presence in states like West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. A key job will also be to manage factional expectations and maintain cohesion in the organisation and for that he will need those who are able to work under his guidance. “It is only natural that working with leaders closer to his age will be more comfortable for the new party president. He will be able to function better, channel fresh energy and ideas more effectively,” a party leader said.
Additionally, with women’s reservation expected to be implemented in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies in the coming years, the new BJP team may also have more women than the previous one. Given the party’s expanding footprint, several leaders currently working at the state level may also be inducted into the Central team. Also apparently, some dynamic faces from states may also be assigned important responsibilities.